OKsoiLIED...!  I said in my last post that there was to be no 2008-2009 season for myself, singing.  This is not so.  I had a job in the fall.  A good job, but one working myself to the bone in a hospital.  I had time management issues.  Hence I was terminated and that night found  myself on the phone, the next evening in my new church's choir.  It is a lovely choir, 10-12 of us, 5 guitarists.  It's a nice size and a nice sound.  I also trained to Cantor and have been cantoring 5pm Mass on Saturday evenings.  My Choral Director from Eastman-Rochester Chorus emailed me back that I was welcome to return to sing with his chorus, which I have been doing.  And at church I am also solicited to sing during Lent and Advent with a more traditional choir for several Masses of traditional holiday music, and was asked to Cantor the bilingual Holy Thursday Mass- I have some music to learn!

In fact, I have performed thrice with ERC- the first time in 2009 was in the Eastman Prism Concert, 16 local choruses came together in various locations within the Eastman Theatre to sing to a nearly full house.  The variety of music was amazing and the quality of performances was outstanding.  Eastman-Rochester Chorus sang  2 works in Russian,  

One Thursday, March 19 and Saturday, March 21, 2009, Eastman-Rochester Chorus joined the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for a rousing performance of Haydn's "The Creation."  This Messiah-esque masterwork was well received by the audience and the press.  Soprano soloist Barbara Shervis and her husband Baritone Stephen Powell were joined for a surprise performance by Rochester's own, Tenor Gregory Kunde, an 11th hour substitution for an ailing Tenor.  Mr. Kunde is an internationally acclaimed Tenor and the sudden substitution brought with it a beautifully sung role, graciously received.  

Here is the local Democrat & Chronicle newspaper's review from:

RPO maestro Seaman, tenor Gregory Kunde put energy in Haydn's 'The Creation'

Stuart Low • Staff writer • March 21, 2009

 

For as long as anybody can remember, Rochester has been a one-oratorio town.

 

Eastman Rochester Chorus, has one more concert to perform, May 1st, 2009, in the Eastman Theatre joined by the Eastman Chorale and the Eastman Philharmonia - Holst's "The Hymn of Jesus," and Vaughan Williams'  "Dona Nobis Pacem."  We hope you can join us.

I don't rest my voice during the summer.  I love to sing too much for that.  I will be singing again this summer, for my 5th season, with Finger Lakes Choral Festival as we take on Beethoven's masterwork Missa Solemnis for two performance in the Hochstein Music Hall on Saturday July 25, 2009 and Sunday July 26, 2009.  


 

 
Finger Lakes Choral Festival has made its final bow for the 2008 season.  Like the previous 5 summers, Andy (aka Adrian) Horn has succeeded in choosing a powerful repertoire and accomplishing  memorable performances. 

Our first performance was June 29th in Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester, NY, entitled aptly, "Beethoven Rocks!" performed with the Penfield Community Symphony Orchestra.  Our powerful Beethoven gems did indeed rock the house.  We performed an all-Beethoven program including "Vienna," "King Stephan: Ruhend von seinem Thaten" and "King Stephan: Chor der Frauen," "Ruin of Athens- Finale" "Elfin Fairies," and "Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra, Op. 80."  Our own accompanist, Dr. Ines Draskovic performed the Fantasia's piano solos with the excitement and deft skill one expects of an accomplished professional.


On July 26th, choir members, with a few other interested singers from around the country, traveled to Chautauqua Institution for the 5th time in our tenure.  We had the very great privilege of again performing Beethoven's "Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra," this time under newly appointed CSO maestro Stefan Sanderling with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra and soloists Sara Buechner on piano, soprano Malinda Haslett, mezzo-soprano Quinn Patrick, bass Derrick Smith and tenors Jonathan Boyd and Grady Bailey III.  If you have never heard this composition I highly suggest checking it out of the library for a listen.  The piano is exciting and with richness and depth.  Ms. Buechner's piano solos were masterfully executed with emotion and a grace that was thrilling to behold.  She is truly a seasoned performer.

So off we go into another school year.  I have no doubt there are few of us who do not look forward to the summer 2009 Finger Lakes Choral Festival.  God's peace be with all of you until we meet again!

But the sea is a mighty soul, forever moaning of some great, unsharable sorrow, which shuts it up into itself for all eternity. We can never pierce its infinite mystery- we may only wander, awed and spell-bound, on the outer fringe of it. -L.M. Montgomery


~2007-2008~

December 1 & December 7, 2007 Bruckner's Mass No. 9, Eastman-Rochester Chorus, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Maestro William Weinert and Maestro S. Mark Scatterday, The Eastman Theatre.

February 7 & 9, 2008, Santoro: Symphony No. 4, Eastman-Rochester Chorus, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Jeff Tyzik, The Eastman Theatre.

May 2, 2008, Mendelssohn's Elijah. Eastman-Rochester Chorus, Eastman Chorale, Eastman School of Music Symphony Orchestra, William Weinert, conductor. The Eastman Theatre.

June 29, 2008, Beethoven Rocks! Beethoven's 9th Symphony Movement 4, Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, & Orchestra, Op. 80, Vienna, King Stephen, Ruins of Athens, Elfin Fairies.  Finger Lakes Choral Festival, Penfield Symphony Orchestra, Adrien Horn, conductor.  Hochstein Performance Hall.

July 26, 2008, Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, & Orchestra, Op. 80.  Finger Lakes Choral Festival, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Stefan Sanderling, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY.

~2006-2007~

July 28 & 29, 2007 "Carmina Burana" by Karl Orff, "Damnation of Faust" by Berlioz, "Mephistopheles" by Boito, Finger Lakes Choral Festival & Orchestra (Alto I), Director Adrian Horn, Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester, NY

August 18, 2007 Beethoven's 9th Symphony, "Choral", Finger Lakes Choral Festival (Alto I), Chautauqua Community Chorus, Shenango Chorale, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Uriel Segal
Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY

~2005-2006~

July 30, 2005 Messa de Requiem, Giuseppi Verdi, Finger Lakes Choral Festival (Alto II)/ Rochester Oratorio Society, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Uriel Segel, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY

November 5, 2005 Brahms' Ein Deutches Requiem, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus, Gerald Fagan, Conductor, Centennial Hall, London, Ontario, Canada

November 19, 2005 Brahms' Ein Deutches Requiem, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus, Maestro Roger Wilhelm, Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester, NY

December 9 & 10 2005 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

March 24, 2006, Jeff Tyzik: Psalm 150, Rochester Oratorio Society (AI)

May 25 & 27 2006 W.A. Mozart "Requiem", Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Christopher Seaman, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

July 8, 2006 Beethoven's 9th Symphony "Choral", Finger Lakes Choral Festival (Alto I), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Christopher Seaman, Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center Grand Opening, Canandaigua, NY

July 27, 2006 Mozart's "Grand Masse in C Minor", Finger Lakes Choral Festival (Alto I)
Adrian Horn, Director, Hochstein Music Hall, Rochester, NY

July 29, 2006 Mozart's "Grand Masse in C Minor," Finger Lakes Choral Festival (Alto I), Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Uriel Segel, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY

~2004-2005~

July 25, 2004 Brahm's German Requiem, Finger Lakes Choral Festival (Sop II), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Adrian Horn, Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center, Canandaigua, NY

July 31, 2004 Brahm's German Requiem -- Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra 75th Anniversary
Finger Lakes Choral Festival (Sop II), Erie, PA Symphonic Chorus, Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Chautauqua Regional Choir, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Uriel Segel, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY

~2003-2004~

22 November 2003, Charles Gounod- Messe Solennelle, G.F. Handel- Ode On St. Cecelia Day
The Gregory Kunde Chorale (Alto I), School of the Arts Select Choir, Gregory Kunde, conductor

~2001-2002~

September 23, 2001, Requiem, K.626, W.A. Mozart, In Memorium of victims of September 11, 2001
Eastman School of Music students, faculty, staff, members of local community choruses (Sop II), The Eastman Philharmonia, Dr. William Weinert, Conductor, The Eastman Theater, Rochester, NY

September 29, 2001, Symphony Number 9, Ludwig van Beethoven, The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Eastman-Rochester Chorus (Alto I), Maestro Christopher Seaman, The Eastman Theater, Rochester, NY

December 14, 2001, The Seasons, Joseph Haydn, Eastman-Rochester Chorus (Alto I), Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, Dr. William Weinert, conductor, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

3 May, 2002, Stabat Mater, Karol Szymanowski, Dona Nobis Pacem, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Eastman-Rochester Chorus (Alto I), Eastman Chorale, Eastman School Symphony Orchestra
Dr. William Weinert, conductor, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

~2000-2001~

May 4, 2001 Dvorak's Stabat Mater, Vivaldi's Te Deum, Eastman-Rochester Chorus (Alto I), Eastman Chorale, Eastman Philharmonia, Dr. William Weinert, Conductor, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

~1999-2000~

November 13, 1999, Mass in Bb by Hummell, Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein, The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm, December 10 & 11, 1999 , The Messiah by G.F. Handel
The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

February 19, 2000, Works by Gabrieli, Mahler, and Vaughan-Williams, The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

May 4 & 6, 2000, Belshazzar's Feast by William Walton, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Christopher Seaman, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

June/July 2000, Solemne Masse, Louis Vierne, The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm, Rome, Italy

~1998-1999~

October 11, 1998 Choral Prism Concert, The Eastman Theatre, Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves- from Verdi's opera Nabucco, The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

November 14, 1998 Britten's St. Nicolas, Mozart's Vespere Solennes de Confessore, K.V. 339, The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), The Nazareth Youth Choir, Maestro Roger Wilhelm

Dec 12,13, 1998 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm,
March 18, 20, 1999 Ein Deutsches Requiem by J. Brahms, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Christopher Seaman, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

April 24, 1999 Frostiana by Randall Thompson, Requiem by John Rutter, The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm, The Hochstein Performance, Rochester, NY

July 24,1999 and Aug 14, 1999, Carmina Burana by Carl Orff -- Chautauqua Institution 125th Anniversary
The Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, Chautauqua Children's Choir, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Ballet Company, Maestro Uriel Segal, conductor.
Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY

~1997-1998~

Nov 14, 1997 Poulenc's Gloria, Menotti's Muero Porque No Muero, Ward's Earth Shall Be Fair, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), The Nazareth Youth Choir, Maestro Roger Wilhelm, Hochstein Perfomance Hall, Rochester, NY

Dec 12,13, 1997 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

Dec 14, 1997 Pergolesi's Magnificat, Asbury First United Methodist Church (Alto I), Director Roger Wilhelm

Feb 8, 1998 Beethoven's Fidelio, the concert version, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Robert Bernhardt, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

April 19, 1998 Faure's Requiem, Asbury First United Methodist Church Sanctuary Choir (Alto I), Roger Wilhelm, Director

April 26, 1998 Opera's Greatest Choruses, Rochester Oratorio Society (Sop II), Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro Robert Bernhardt, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

~1996-1997~

Nov 15, 1996 Mozart's Coronation Mass, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

Dec 13, 14, 1996 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Roger Wilhelm,
Dec 15, 1996 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Roger Wilhelm
The Smith Opera House, Geneva, NY

Feb 1997 Brahm's German Requiem, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Robert Bernhardt, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

July 26, 1997 Brahm's German Requiem, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Erie, PA Symphonic Chorus, Chautauqua Regional Choir, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Uriel Segal, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY

~1995-1996~

Oct 7, 1995 Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Robert Bernhardt, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

Dec 8, 9, 1995 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

Dec 10, 1995 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Wilhelm, The Smith Opera House, Geneva, NY

May 1996 Wilhelm's Patriotic Songs, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto I), Maestro Roger Wilhelm
Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester, NY

~1994-1995~

Nov 4, 1994 Mendelsohnn's Hymn of Praise, Thompson's Frostiana, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

Dec 9, 10, 1994 Handel's Messiah, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto II), Maestro Roger Wilhelm

Dec 21, 23, 1994 Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto II), Maestro Robert Bernhardt, Conductor
The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

Mar 23, 25, 1995 Verdi's Requiem, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto II)
David Effron, Conductor, The Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY

May 7, 1995 Mozart's Grand Mass in C Minor, K. 427, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto II), London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus, Maestro Roger Wilhelm, Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester, NY

May 14, 1995 Mozart's Grand Mass in C Minor, K. 427, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto II), London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus, Gerald Fagan, Conductor, Centennial Hall, London, Ontario, Canada

July 9, 1995 Verdi's Requiem, Chautauqua Music School Festival Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society (Alto II), Maestro David Effron, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY

~1991-1993~

Jun 2, 1991 Mozart's Coronation Mass, Bethany Presbyterian Church Choir (Alto), Michael Burnette, Director.

Dec 1993 Rutter's Gloria, Third Presbyterian Church (Alto), Peter DuBois, Director